Why we ALMOST bought an R... decontenting
Coming from a QX56 and a last-generation X5, I drove a couple of R's and was quite impressed. Though "unique" looking, I liked the ride and handling much better then the ML/GL. I thought this would be the answer, and the dealer is able to locate an available new R320cdi with everything I wanted in the right colors.
So, I brought the wife to drive one. Three of her friends have R's, and all really like them. However, one commented to her, "It doesnt feel very luxurious".

Once she got past the manual tilt steering wheel, the manual folding third row seats, the unavailability of drive dynamic seats like her CLS had, and no trailering provision, the R was pretty much out of consideration.

Never mind that the R350 she drove could barely get out of its own way.

Instead, she chose a leftover GL450, which has power all of that and much more. Another damn big SUV... all because MB, (or MBUSA) has decontented the R class so much, that it now makes very little pretense of being a "luxury" car.

Crap.
I was really looking forward to the R. However, I do know of a couple of R63's for sale... that's be sweet revenge, wouldnt it?
Last edited by 201mph; Nov 2, 2007 at 07:41 AM.
Coming from a QX56 and a last-generation X5, I drove a couple of R's and was quite impressed. Though "unique" looking, I liked the ride and handling much better then the ML/GL. I thought this would be the answer, and the dealer is able to locate an available new R320cdi with everything I wanted in the right colors.
So, I brought the wife to drive one. Three of her friends have R's, and all really like them. However, one commented to her, "It doesnt feel very luxurious".

Once she got past the manual tilt steering wheel, the manual folding third row seats, the unavailability of lumbar support "active" seats like her CLS had, and no trailering provision, the R was pretty much out of consideration.

Never mind that the R350 she drove could barely get out of its own way.

Instead, she chose a leftover GL450, which has power all of that and much more. Another damn big SUV... all because MB, (or MBUSA) has decontented the R class so much, that it now makes very little pretense of being a "luxury" car.

Crap.
I was really looking forward to the R. However, I do know of a couple of R63's for sale... that's be sweet revenge, wouldnt it?

Either way, congrats on your GL. I believe it won Motor Trend's SUV of the year last year.
Length: 200.6 in. Width: 75.6 in.
Height: 72.4 in. Wheel Base: 121.1 in.
Ground Clearance: 7.9 in. Curb Weight: 5280 lbs.
Gross Weight: 6461 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 40.1 in. Front Shoulder Room: 58.3 in.
Rear Head Room: 40.6 in. Rear Shoulder Room: 58.9 in.
Front Leg Room: 40.3 in. Rear Leg Room: 39.5 in.
Luggage Capacity: 14.3 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 83 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 7
R- Class
Length: 203 in. Width: 75.7 in.
Height: 65.2 in. Wheel Base: 126.6 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.8 in.
Interior
Front Shoulder Room: 60.3 in. Rear Shoulder Room: 59.6 in.
Front Leg Room: 39.8 in. Rear Leg Room: 36.2 in.
Luggage Capacity: 15.3 cu. ft. Maximum Cargo Capacity: 85 cu. ft.
Maximum Seating: 7
Today, both listings are gone... havent called either dealer back to see if they were sold, though.
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